Careers

Career development and support at every stage

At Durham University you will plan for your future, meet employers and develop your employability skills. The CareerAhead service is part of every programme at the International Study Centre, and you can complete the prestigious Durham Award during your degree.

Durham University produces some of the UK’s most employable graduates. It is a world top 40 university for employability by large companies (QS World University Rankings 2017/18) and ranked 4th overall in the UK for graduate employability (The Times and The Sunday Times University Guide 2017).

At the International Study Centre

CareerAhead

CareerAhead is part of all pathway programmes at the International Study Centre on Queen's Campus. We help each student to develop a personalised career development plan, and you’ll learn important career skills as part of your curriculum.

CareerAhead includes:

Help in identifying strengths and weaknesses

A plan for focusing on areas for success

Guidance in making the right career choices

Support in creating a CV and personal statement

Advice on extra-curricular activities and opportunities

At the University

During your degree at Durham City Campus you will have the full support of the University’s career advisors and resources. To help you stand out from the crowd, you can also complete the College Award and Durham Award.

This highly-respected award is recognised by employers and can make you stand out during job applications and interviews. To achieve the Durham Award you need to complete a portfolio that demonstrates your employability skills. This portfolio is assessed by Durham University and external employers.

The Durham Award portfolio includes:

A five-minute video

A completed Linkedin profile

An activity log

Evidence of your activities while at Durham

To begin the Durham Award, you need to complete the College Award.

University career services

Throughout your studies at Durham University you will have lots of opportunities to meet employers, organise work experience and develop your career skills.

At Queen’s Campus, the International Study Centre will give you all the support you need. When you successfully progress to Durham City you can take full advantage of the university’s wider career services at the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre. Services include Career Fairs, a careers advisor, and help finding internships.

Student life

97.9% graduate employment

Durham has the highest graduate employment rate of any UK university with 97.9 per cent of graduates in work or further study three and a half years after they graduate (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2016/17).